{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O159973"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O159973/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL9063/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BL9063/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BL9063","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O159973/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O159973","accessionNumber":"297-1872","objectType":"Cup","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Highly-polished earthenware vessels from Tonalá, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, were not only admired by the colonial settlers but exported to Europe in quantities from the early 17th century. The fashion for bùcaros de Indias (aromatic earthenware from Latin America) is well recorded in accounts and Spanish still-life paintings of the period. The vessels were celebrated for their fine and fragrant clay body, which infused a delicate flavour to the water contained within them. Fashionable Spanish ladies were known to eat small fragments of the bùcaros to benefit from certain gastronomic qualities. The aroma could be enhanced by storing the absorbent clay vessels in boxes scented with spices and oils.\r\n\r\nLarge, dimpled vessels were used to store water. The increased surface area aided evaporation through the thin walls of the unglazed clay. This served to humidify the hot and dry Spanish air. The process also cooled the remaining liquid and released the celebrated aroma of the clay.\r\n\r\n\r\nSmaller beakers are often characterised by punched, stamped and incised decoration. These delicate vessels appear in many 17th century Spanish still-life paintings, demonstrating that bùcaros  were as prized as oriental porcelain or fine glass. Contemporary sources record their use in flavouring water at banquets. They were also thought to purify polluted water and even detect poisoned liquids.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the 17th century bùcaros were coated in a white slip as well as the usual red. They were decorated with freehand designs in red, orange, blue and black. The most common form of this type was a bowl with handles set at an angle to aid the user in drinking from it.","physicalDescription":"Red earthenware cup with two handles and flaring rim, on a raised foot. Made in Mexico.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"}],"techniques":[{"text":"incised","id":"AAT53847"},{"text":"stamped","id":"x36244"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Red earthenware with stamped ornament","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2007BL9063"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"145 (VA)","id":"THES49865"},"free":"","case":"42","shelf":"2","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cup","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Jalisco (state)","id":"x40484"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1600-1700","earliest":"1595-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"converted from inches"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"converted from inches"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Part of a collection of Bucaros 285 to 317-1872, bought through Señor Riano of Madrid. The bucaros were purchased from a collection held by Mr Vicente de Pablo in Toledo. A selection of 35 was acquired for the Museum by Riano for 850 reales, then about 8 guineas and a half.","historicalContext":"Highly-polished earthenware vessels from Tonalá, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, were not only admired by the colonial settlers but exported to Europe in quantities from the early 17th century. The fashion for bùcaros de Indias (aromatic earthenware from Latin America) is well recorded in accounts and Spanish still-life paintings of the period. The vessels were celebrated for their fine and fragrant clay body, which infused a delicate flavour to the water contained within them. Fashionable Spanish ladies were known to eat small fragments of the bùcaros to benefit from certain gastronomic qualities. The aroma could be enhanced by storing the absorbent clay vessels in boxes scented with spices and oils.\r\n\r\nLarge, dimpled vessels were used to store water. The increased surface area aided evaporation through the thin walls of the unglazed clay. This served to humidify the hot and dry Spanish air. The process also cooled the remaining liquid and released the celebrated aroma of the clay.\r\n\r\n\r\nSmaller beakers are often characterised by punched, stamped and incised decoration. These delicate vessels appear in many 17th century Spanish still-life paintings, demonstrating that bùcaros  were as prized as oriental porcelain or fine glass. Contemporary sources record their use in flavouring water at banquets. They were also thought to purify polluted water and even detect poisoned liquids.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the 17th century bùcaros were coated in a white slip as well as the usual red. They were decorated with freehand designs in red, orange, blue and black. The most common form of this type was a bowl with handles set at an angle to aid the user in drinking from it.","briefDescription":"Cup, made in Mexico, about 1600-1700, red earthenware with stamped ornament","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Ray, Anthony. <i>Spanish Pottery 1248-1898 : with a catalogue of the collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum</i> London, V&A Publications, 2000","id":"AUTH354425"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"This piece was previously thought to have come from Talavera, Spain.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Cup\nMade in Mexico about 1600-1700\nRed earthenware with stamped ornament\n\n297-1872\n\nThis piece was previously thought to have come from Talavera, Spain.","date":{"text":"16/07/2008","earliest":"2008-07-16","latest":"2008-07-16"}}],"partNumbers":["297-1872"],"accessionNumberNum":"297","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1872,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP5895","2019LU4981","2019LU3323"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-16","availableToBook":false}}